Why did I do this again….

I had always wanted a studio.

I wanted enough room to work without rebuilding and tearing down everything for every session. Seriously, do you know how long that takes? Such precious editing time spent on moving props here and there.

I wanted a temperature-controlled place where I could safely store my gear, props, clothing, and artwork. A place where clients can come in from the winter cold, or like right now, escape a heat advisory instead of standing in a cornfield.

I wanted a styling room where clients could prepare and get help choosing what to wear. Where they can browse through all the beautiful outfits, dresses, and accessories I’ve spent ages curating. A place where we can design what they want their photo to FEEL like. To try on their options, to see themselves in the mirror and realize how beautiful they are. A place to see themselves the way the rest of the world sees them. When they don’t have to be their own hardest critic. 

I wanted a place where people could actually see the artwork options instead of trying to imagine sizes and finishes through a screen. A place for them to physically touch the samples of my canvas, run their fingers across the ornate stylings of the different frames I offer. A chance to truly envision a piece of art of themselves, for themselves. 

Mostly, I wanted clients to have a space where they could be comfortable and properly served throughout the entire process. A place to grab a drink when nerves have them feeling parched. A soft place to sit, while they see their images on the reveal screen. A place they could feel safe, and beautiful, and as if nothing else in the world mattered but them, in that very moment. 

But wanting a studio and believing I could actually have one were two VERY different things. For a long time, it felt so far outside the realm of possibility that I stopped actively searching.

Then, naturally, as the universe prefers, I found one while scrolling Facebook completely unexpectedly and by accident.

Now, I am the self-appointed queen of scrolling and searching to see what is happening in my community. I am always looking for anything with potential for anything, even when I do not have a specific plan in mind. Maybe it's the hunt that excites me? Maybe it’s the idea that almost anything has potential. 

One day, I came across a post about a commercial space available in Taylorville. I wasn’t looking for a studio at that point. I wasn’t planning to sign a lease or start a remodel.

But the moment I looked through the photos, I knew.

The location made sense. The price felt possible. The building had a layout I could work with, and I could immediately see the potential inside it.

I knew it was the future home of Nikki’s Narrative before I ever stepped inside. I contacted the realtor that same day and scheduled a walkthrough. Caleb was the only person who knew I was even considering it. I was already convinced, but I was also worried the photographs were hiding something. I thought maybe I would get there and find major problems that made the whole idea impossible. For real though? Was it haunted? Did I need to be worried? 

Maybe the space would feel much smaller in person. Maybe the layout would not work the way I imagined. As a photographer, I especially know that some photos may be deceiving when it comes to perceived space and forced perspective. Maybe the building would need more than we could realistically handle. Just how rough were those walls? 

I knew it had previously been a floral shop, and I knew the location was good. It sits right off the downtown square and along the main route used for parades, community events, and the car cruises that regularly move through Taylorville. It’s literally a couple of blocks from my childhood home, and where my mother still lives! Does that mean lunch dates? 

That mattered to me. Not only because I am rebuilding relationships with family.. But because the studio was exactly where I didn’t realize I needed it to be. Isn’t it wild how sometimes fate knows you better than you know yourself? 

I want Nikki’s Narrative to feel connected to the community, not tucked away somewhere no one ever sees where it could slowly be forgotten. When I walked inside for the first time, the concerns did not completely disappear, because the building obviously needed work, and a lot of it.

But the feeling was still there.

My dream for the storefront

I could picture clients walking in, being immediately immersed into my world of stories. I could see families laughing, smiling and even crying while looking at their photos being revealed. I could feel the hugs, and was drunk off the possibilities just laid out before me for the taking. I could see the reception area, the studio space, the gallery wall, the styling room, the furniture, and the artwork. I could almost feel the velvet on my fingertips. The ambiance, the smell, the comfort… and most importantly I could feel the familiarity. As if the space had already been there waiting for me to uncover it, wipe off the dust and bring her back to life. Like a faint memory sitting at the edge of my mind softly speaking to me. 

My vision

I could see the entire thing before any of it existed.

I knew it was the future.